The College experience should include Christianity

College is a time where students hope to “find themselves” and finally experience freedom away from their parents. An opportunity to make your own choices and discover what defines them. There are many opportunities to do that on a college campus. However, clubs and organizations can lack the ability to fulfill students' desires, identity and purpose. Some students find that fulfillment through the church and Christianity.

Exploring Christianity moves students from a success-based worth to a calling-based identity. It also provides a caring and supportive community for students in a confusing season of life. Students who pursue Christianity are also able to connect their education and everyday lives to their values with the help of mentorship.

College is often described as the best years of one's life, but it could also be one of the most stressful. Students have to juggle academics, social lives, and financial pressure. Many tie their identity to success in these areas, creating an unstable sense of self. Christianity teaches that individuals are created to glorify and enjoy God by bearing His image. This gives students confidence not based on achievement, but we have value simply because God made us and redeemed us. A study by the Cato Institute shares that only 29% of atheists or agnostics feel that they have a purpose in their life. Finding identity in Christ provides a stable foundation that many students lack, in a season of life that can feel anything but stable.

Coming to a college campus means being surrounded by people at all times. Constantly being around people but struggling to find community can make students feel isolated and alone. “…faith-based organizations can make a student feel especially welcome and supported,” said Judi Robinovitz, a certified educational consultant specializing in educational counselling. These organizations surround students with like-minded peers, who provide support, acceptance, and comfort. Kansas State University has 185 religious groups listed in OrgCentral, giving students many opportunities to build meaningful connections with others rooted in faith.

Local churches and Christian-organizations provide students with support and wisdom based in Christianity that many peers may not always offer. Unlike a typical club, these groups provide access to mentors who have likely faced similar challenges. Students are able to connect their passions and career goals to a broader purpose. A student at the University of Wisconsin- Madison shared that ministry involvement led him to think more deeply about the “big questions,” including his purpose for living and how those outside the church view the world. This perspective prepares students for life beyond college.

Some students may feel that Christianity restricts the ability to experience college, or have had negative experiences with religion in the past. As well as maybe lacking time to go to church on Sunday because they need to work among many other reasons. These are valid concerns and shape how individuals view faith. However, many Christian organizations on campus welcome students from all walks of life regardless of where you are at in your faith. Providing various days and times throughout the week for students to take part in these organizations. Students are invited to explore Christianity in an open and supportive environment.

Instead of viewing college as a place to “find yourself”, students should also see it as an opportunity to grow in your faith, community, and develop their sense of purpose. Exploring Christianity may offer clarity and direction in a time many are searching for both.